THE Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) conducted a week-long training from August 18 to 24 focused on enhancing the safety of journalists in Mindanao, as part of the Philippines’ Action Plan for the safety of media workers.

The training, held at Chali Beach Resort in Cagayan de Oro, brought together journalists from Cagayan de Oro, Surigao del Sur, and Misamis Occidental, alongside campus journalists from Xavier University and Bukidnon State University, as well as faculty from Mindanao State University.

Rowena Paraan, training director at the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), emphasized the critical importance of prioritizing the safety of journalists covering high-risk areas.

She said the potential for psychosocial trauma during such assignments and stressed the importance of ensuring journalists’ safety requires a collective effort from media organizations, news outlets, and government agencies.

SAFETY FIRST. JB Deveza, a trainer at the Safety Training organized by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, guides fellow journalists on handling checkpoint encounters while covering high-risk areas. The discussion followed a simulation exercise held on August 19 in Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City. Photo by Shiela Mae Butlig

“The training alone cannot solve the safety issues faced by journalists, but it is a necessary response to the problem,” Paraan said.

She noted that these sessions help participants understand the various threats journalists encounter, particularly in a country like the Philippines, which is considered one of the most dangerous places in the world for media professionals.

The training covered a range of safety concerns, including legal, digital, gender, psychosocial, and physical safety.

Notable resource speakers included Frank Lloyd Tiongson of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), Samantha David of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Josalee Deinla of NUPL, Julie Alipala of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and JB Deveza, a safety trainer with the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).

In his session, Deveza addressed the various types of physical threats journalists face, providing guidance on situational awareness, detecting surveillance, and dealing with hostile crowds and checkpoints through simulations.

The training was supported by Unesco and the Embassy of Switzerland to the Philippines, reflecting the international concern over journalist safety in the country.